Brassiere



H. F. VOLK Aug. 2, 1927.

RAssIRE Filed Jan 26. 1924 rrrrr IN VEN TOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES HTTIE F. VOLK, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

BnAssIBE.

Application'tlled January 26, 1924. Serial No. 688,635.

This invention is an improvement in brassires and relates more particularly to the breast supporting and confining portions.

As one important feature of my improved construction I provide a breast covering portion formed independentl of but directly connected to the main bo y encircling portion. By gathering this breast coverin portion at the upper and lower edges an providing it with a substantially inelastic binding, it may be made to accurately and comfortably fit the ligure.

As another feature of my improved construction I provide stiii'ening means for preventing wrinkling of the parts of the body encircling portions beneath the arm pits and utilize this same stiffening means for supportin and holding in place the outer substantia 1y vertical edges of the breast covering portions.

As another important feature I provide independent covering portions for the two breasts and connect these to the body encircling portion in overlapping relationship at the front center so that the edges of these portions form diagonal supports crossing each other and presenting a V neck appearance.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the front of one form of my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outer side of the garment in open position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing one of the breast covering portions folded down, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternative construction.

In the construction as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is provided a body encircling portion 10 which may be formed of any suitable material and is provided with binding strips 11 and 12 along the upper and lower substantially paral el edges. This body encircling portion is preferabl of such width as to extend from at or near t e waistline up to the lower portion of the breast, Any suitable means, for instance hooks and eyes, are provided for fastening the body encirclin portions together along the back center ine, and one or more strips of elastic material 13 may be inserted, and extending from the upper to the lower edges to cause the body encirclin portion to ro rl Bt the body and not ingterfere with liiealtliinyg or bending.

Two separate and independent breast covering portions 14 are provided, these being of approximately triangular or semi-elliptical shape. The lower edge is secured directly to the upper edge l1 of the body encircling portion, and the upper edge or point is connected by a strap or tape 15 adapted to extend over the shoulder and Conner-ted to the upper edge of the body encircling portions at the rear. The fabric of each breast covering portion 14 is gathered along a narrow portion 16 at its lower edge and along a narrow portion 17 at its upper edge, and tlie upper and side edges are provided with a substantially inelastic binding strip 18. The two gathered portions permit the breast covering portion to have the desired bulging or pocket effect to properly lit the figure.

The two breast covering portions are formed entirely independent of each other and overlap at the front central portion so as to give a V-neck appearance, and so that the binding strips 18 which cross each other at the front draw along diagonal lines .from the upper edge 11 toward the supporting straps 15.

The outer edges of the breast covering, confining and supporting portions 14 are substantially vertical and are disposed approximately beneath the arm pits. These side portions are provided with reinforcing stays or stifi'ening strips 19 which extend from the lower edge of the body encircling portion 10 entirely across said body encircling portion and up along the side edge of the breast covering portion to a distance of approximately one-third or one-half the height of the latter. These stiifeners or stays are covered by a tape or ribbon portion 20 which extends across the body encircling portion and forms a, part of the binding for the rear approximately vertical edges of the breast covering portions. These stays support the breast covering portion and avoid the necessity of having these edges extend as far toward the rear on the upper edge of the body encircling portion as would otherwise be necessary.

Although I prefer to have the breast covering portions independent and overlapping, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the other features of my invention may be incorporated in a construction in which this feature is omitted.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a construction in which the two substantially tri-angular breast covering portions 14". 14 are formed of a single piece of material 7cut to forni a V-notch at the upper edge, and gathered at the points 16a and 1T. The front center portion is not gathered at either the uppei` or lower edge. The other features of the construction shown in Fig. 4 may be substantially the same as that hereinbefore described.

Although my improved device is primarily intended for use as a brassire, it may be incorporated in or formed as a part of other articles of wearing apparel which may extend below the waistline, as for instance dress linings, bloomers, chemises, pajamas, etc. lVhen used as a brassire it may be worn Without a corset or over or under a corset. The body encircling portion may and preferably does serve for diaphragm reducing or contining as it is secured tightly around the body and includes the elastic section. The lower edge may be provided with hose supporters or it may have a depending front.` side or rear parts to which hose supporters may be attached.

Obviously changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters Patent is A garment of the class described including a body encircling portion formed substantially of inelastic material and of a width to extend from approximately the waist line to the lower port-ion of the breast and having a substantially horizontal upper edge, means for securing the same together along the center line of the back, a breast covering and supporting portion of flexible material secured to the upper edge of said body en circling portion and consisting of two separate and independent approximately semielliptical portions gathered along a narrow portion of their upper and lower edges, said semi-elliptical portions being overlapped at the central portion of the upper edge of the body encircling portion at the front thereof and forming an upper V-notch and a lower triangular portion of a plurality of thicknesses, an inelastic binding aong the upper and side edges of said breast covering portion :1nd straps secured to the upper edge of said breast covering portion at the opposite sides nesses, an inelastic binding along the upper rear edge of said body encircling portion and adapted to extend over the shoulders.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 25th dav of January, A. D. 1924.

HATTIE F. VOLK turcs of my invention may be incorporated in a construction in which this feature is omitted.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a construction in which the two substantially tri-angular breast covering portions 14a. 1-fia are formed of a single piece of material cut to forni a V-noteh at the upper edge. and gathered at the points 16?i and 1T". rThe trout center portion is not gathered at either the upper or lower edge. The other features of the construction shown in Fig. 4 may be substantially the same as that` hereinbetore described.

Although my improved device is primarily intended for use as a brassire` it may be incorporated in or formed as a part of other articles of wearing apparel which may extend below the waistline, as for instance dress linings` bloomers, chemises. pajamas, etc. 'hen used as a brassire it may be worn without a corsety or over or under a corset. The body encircling portion may and preferably does serve for diaphragm reducing or confining as it is secured tightly around the body and includes the elastic section. The lower edge may be provided with hose supporters or it may have a depending front. side or rear parts to which hose supporters may be attached.

Obviously changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A garment of the class described including a body encircling portion formed substantially of inelastic material and of a width to extend from approximately the waist line to the lower portion of the breast and having a substantially horizontal upper edge, means for securing the same together along the center line of the back, a breast covering and supporting portion of flexible material secured to the upper edge of said body encircling portion and consisting of two separate and independent approximately semielliptical portions gathered along a narrow portion of their upper and lower edges, said semi-elliptical portions being overlapped at the central portion of the upper edge of the body encircling portion at the front thereof and forming an upper V-notch and a lower triangular portion of a plurality of thicknesses, an inelastic binding aong the upper and side edges of said breast covering portion and straps secured to the upper edge of said breast covering portion at the opposite sides nesscs, an inelastic binding along the upper rear edge of said body encircling portion and adapted to extend over the shoulders.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 525th day of January, A. D. 1.924.

HATTIE F. VOLK Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,637,840.

Granted August 2, 1927, to

HAT'IIE F. VOLK.

It is hereby certified that numbered patent requiring error appears in the printed specification of the abovecorrection as follows:

Page 2, in claim strike out line 61, and insert instead of said notch am( also secured to the upper; and that the said Letters Patent should `be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,637,840. Granted August 2, 1927, to

HATTI E F. VOLK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2. in Claim strike out line 61, and insert instead of said nota/L and also secu-'red o the upper; dnd that the Said Letters Patent should 4he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Pdtenty Oice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MUORE,

Acting ommz'ssofrwr of Patents. 

